Category: News

ISTANBUL, Turkey ? Dogus Otomtion is billed as a unique marketing experience based on the concept of bringing together the premium automobile brands distributed by Dogus Otomotiv ? Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche among them ? with the world of art, design and technology. The 300,000-square-foot Otomotion complex houses a vast range of vehicle showrooms, conference and meeting rooms, a distinctly original restaurant, a children’s club and an exhibition halls, all of which are part of a youthful, dynamic and innovative platform to bring together state-of-the-art technology, unique architecture and a passion for cars. Crest Audio distributor and leading Turkish AV systems integrator Telesine supplied and installed the AV, lighting and control equipment for the project, including the Crest Audio CA™ Series amplifiers that power the venue. “The Crest Audio CA Series amplifiers offer tremendous value in proven amplifier technology,” said Telesine’s Hakan Gurun. “These amplifiers have been tried and tested and have proved their worth time and time again. In a big, prestigious project like this, we can’t afford to specify equipment that we are not 100% confident about. We know that with CA Series amplifiers, we can sleep easy at night!” Telesine specified a total of twenty-eight Crest Audio amplifiers from the legendary CA Series to drive the venue’s sound system, which is zoned into five areas throughout the main hall plus five additional areas. A total of twelve powerful CA9 amplifiers (8 ohms stereo into 600 watts or 4 ohms stereo into 900 watts) were selected for the ambient sound areas around the domes and stairs (zone 2), the under-balcony speakers (zone 3), the Porsche and Bentley areas (zone 4), the Entrance and Exhibit area (zone 5), and the Kids area. Nine CA6 amplifiers delivering 8 ohms stereo into 400 watts (or 4 ohms stereo into 600 watts) were specified for the Experience Dome, the Hospitality Dome and the Future of Motion exhibit, and seven CA2 amplifiers were chosen for the Main Showroom area.

Twenty of the world’s top professional snowboarders whipped Midtown Manhattan into a winter wonderland to the sound of Crest Audio during the Jeep® Union Square Street Sessions Action Sports Block Party.

As the competitors carved and grinded through an urban snowscape in pursuit of a $30,000 purse, a steady succession of DJs and live acts — including Trouble Andrew, led by Olympic snowboarder-turned-rocker Trevor Andrew — entertained the 10,000 estimated local spectators and an audience of millions watching on NBC’s Jeep® World of Adventure Sports.

Working with Doug Jastremski and Power Posse Productions, Michael Powell of Agostino Consulting enlisted a Peavey Versarray line-array sound system powered by Crest Audio to manage the live production at the second annual snowboarding competition, held February 7 in NYC’s Union Square. Powell said that the highly adjustable and articulate Versarray allowed him to overcome an unconventional stage setup to establish comprehensive coverage of the area.

“The stage wasn’t set up on a square, so we had to offset our setup to compensate for the awkward angle,” said Powell, who has used the Peavey Versarray system on dozens of outdoor festivals in the New York/Tri-State area since summer 2007.

“We normally run six VR218™ subwoofers to match our six-box VR112™ arrays on each side, but we cut back to five subs because we didn’t have enough space—but that proved to be plenty. We ran the subs on an aux send and we had tons of headroom and clean sound. The only problem we had was the NYPD asking us to turn it down. There’s nothing within $1000 that can touch the VR218 sub.”

Powell used a pair of Crest Audio Pro 7200™ power amplifiers, one per six VR112 boxes, for the high frequencies. One Pro 9200™ per side powered the mids, while a pair of 9200s drove the five VR218 subwoofers. He chose two Crest Audio CC™ 4000 and two CC 2800 amps for the monitors.

“We ran the entire FOH system on Crest Audio’s Pro 200™ Series amplifiers,” said Powell. “I love Crest amps going way back; we still have some 10001 Series amps in use, and we have a 4801 for some of our four-way systems. The Pro 200 is definitely one of the best-sounding amps, and the CC is literally the most power you can get out of a 20-amp plug. Crest Audio had the right amplifier for every part of this job.”

SONDERSHAUSEN, Germany — California desert rockers Queens of the Stone Age went for a radical change of scene recently when they performed an exclusive one-off gig for 300 fans in a German salt mine.

Billed as the world’s deepest gig ever, fans were transported 2,300 feet underground to hear Queens of the Stone Age perform through a Crest Audio Pro 200™-powered sound system supplied by audio rental and production specialists Complete Audio Berlin.

Complete Audio’s André Rauhut admitted that the Sondershausen salt mine definitely ranked at the top of his “most unusual venue” list, and was pretty close to earning “most challenging,” as well. The first task was to bring all the components underground, where they were left for 36 hours to adjust to the climatic conditions of the underground chamber. Then his crew handled the massive reverberations coming off the walls. Throughout it all, Rauhut said that his Crest Audio Pro 200 Series amplifiers were a very important part of the signal chain.

“It doesn’t matter how well-tuned your P.A. setup is if the amplifiers massacre the signal before it gets to the loudspeakers,” he remarked. “The Crest Pro 200 Series amplifiers provide clean, powerful and reliable sound reinforcement with plenty of headroom for strong peaks. In short, this was a world-class system that produced stunning results in challenging acoustic surroundings, and we have the live digital recording to prove it!”

The band’s fans, who were required to wear protective helmets throughout the underground concert experience, were equally appreciative, and will doubtless be looking forward to reliving the event—and seeing themselves in helmets—on the forthcoming DVD.

Crest Audio Pro 200 Series professional power amplifiers showcase Crest’s renowned sonic integrity at exceptionally high power ratings (up to 6500W bridged on the Pro 9200) in a compact, lightweight (24 lbs.) 2RU package. Crest Audio Pro 200 Series amps also feature Automatic Clip Limiting™ (ACL) to protect connected drivers; IGM™ Impedance Sensing to accommodate varying impedance outputs; tunnel-cooled, high efficiency heat sinks; and variable-speed DC fans to limit the operating temperature and extend amplifier life. Models in the series include the Pro 9200, Pro 8200, Pro 7200 and Pro 5200.

Crest Audio proudly introduces the CV-20 live-sound mixing console, an incredibly flexible VCA audio solution designed for applications such as front-of-house, monitors and monitors from front-of-house.

The CV-20 is available in 24, 32, 40, 48 and 56 mono input configurations with four-band sweepable EQ and fully parametric mid-frequency control on each mono input. A feature set of 12 aux sends, eight subgroup assignments and L/C/R panning to the Left/Right and Mono busses provide a wealth of audio routing options as well as Crest Audio’s renowned pristine sound quality.

Standard on all CV-20 frames are eight stereo input channels consisting of four microphone-line channels and four dual-line channels with the same full assignment capabilities as the mono input channels, plus eight VCA masters, 12 aux masters, eight subgroups and separate left/right/mono controls that can be “fader reversed” to allow fader control of the aux masters.

CV-20 mixing consoles also feature 128 VCA assignment and 144 mute scenes with MIDI control, 16 mute groups, an 11×4 matrix that is expandable to 19×4, full dynamics on all subgroups and main busses (also routable to the aux masters) and full metering on all main and auxiliary outputs.

Available options include meter-bridge kits to monitor all outputs in VU and a bus link module kit for linking together two CV-20 consoles. The CV-20 can use its internal power supply as well as an optional, redundant external power-factor-corrected power supply.

Features
· 24, 32, 40, 48 and 56 frame sizes
· Full VCA control on all inputs and groups
· Eight dedicated stereo inputs on all frame sizes
· Eight VCA masters
· 12 auxes with flexible configuration
· True L/C/R panning from mono inputs and subgroups
· 11×4 matrix, expandable to 19×4
· Inserts on all Mono inputs and Main outputs
· Optional meter bridge to monitor outputs in VU
· LED bar graph metering on all inputs and outputs
· Fader-reverse function allows fader control on aux outputs
· Full dynamics on all main outputs (L/R/M and subgroups) in FOH mode
· Dynamics routed to auxes in Monitor mode (with fader reverse)
· 16 mute groups, 136 mute scenes and 128 VCA assignment scenes with easy editing, snapshot automation and MIDI control
· Direct outs on all inputs, switchable from pre/post fader
· Made in the U.S.A.

Features and specifications are subject to change without notice.

New sound system backs country music’s new talent

More than the allure of Platinum records, gated estates or induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame two blocks away, the true barometer of success in country music is getting your snapshot on Tootsie’s Wall of Fame.

Despite its down-home honky tonk vibe, the walls of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville hosts an elite bunch. Since 1920, this Broadway watering hole has launched countless careers in country music, helping many of the struggling musicians pictured on its walls blossom into perennial favorites.

Kris Kristofferson, Hank Cochran, Mel Tillis, Roger Miller, Waylon Jennings and Patsy Cline all frequented the shotgun-style saloon during their lean years. Willie Nelson won his first songwriting job after singing on its stage. And landing a gig at Tootsie’s remains a rite of passage for writers, pickers and performers who make the pilgrimage to Music City today.

Now Peavey—another Nashville fixture with roots dating back to endorsements from Merle Haggard and Conway Twitty—is backing country-music hopefuls in addition to the 200 or so local session pros and stars who endorse its musical equipment. That’s because Tootsie’s star-making stage now boasts an impressive pro audio system from Peavey and Crest Audio.

But Peavey is no stranger to the Tootsie’s stage. In fact, when audio consultant Kent Morris showed up with a truck full of new Peavey QW(R) loudspeaker enclosures and GPS(R) power amplifiers for the main room, front-of-house engineer Bobby Phillips directed him to a rack containing a few familiar relics.

“The old system was a pair of 450-watt Peavey Black Widow(R) 18″ subs,” said Phillips, “those original speakers from the 1970s.” A stack of 20-year-old Peavey CS(R) 800 and 1000 amps were also part of the old guard at Tootsie’s stage, an 18′ W x 20′ D platform positioned in front of a 25′ x 25′ seating space.

At the heart of the new system is a 24-channel Crest Audio HP-Eight(TM) mixing console. Phillips said that regardless of the number of performers on stage, he is able to accommodate them with this single console for both mains and monitors.

“I’m running five monitor mixes—one set of in-ears and four wedges—and I typically run 16-20 channels depending on the size of the act,” he said.

The eight-bus HP-Eight console’s Fader Flip function is central to his streamlined approach. Phillips can see the levels going to the stage by simply pressing a button that sends the Aux masters to 100 mm faders in place of groups and L/R.

“With Fader Flip, instead of using the Aux send [for monitors], I can flip it down to the faders on the groups and actually get meter readings on my monitor sends. It’s a wonderful thing.”

A complement of ten Peavey GPS(R) (Global Power Series) amplifiers deliver the signal to two sets of QW loudspeakers and monitors. At both stage left and stage right, a GPS 900 powers the high end of a QW 1, while a GPS 2600 powers the mids. Two GPS 3500 amps drive a QW 215 and 218 subwoofer each. Monitors are QW ML and QW MR models pushed by GPS 1500s.

Phillips said he decided to use the QW Series enclosures because of Peavey’s patented Quadratic Throat Waveguide technology, which eliminates distortion caused by high sound-pressure levels. As Morris explains, audio originates at two different points within speakers having rectangular horns—such as 60° x 40° or 90° x 40°—because the vertical and horizontal axes are not aligned. The transition from driver to horn wall in these speakers is what causes distortion.

“What Quadratic Throat Waveguide(TM) technology does is introduce audio at a singular physical point within the speaker, so the transitions from driver to horn and horn to audience are smooth,” said Morris. “The shape allows the sound waves to travel at right angles to the horn walls and always transmit crisp, clear, faithful reproductions of the audio.”

Added Phillips, “The Peavey and Crest Audio system has been more than adequate in working with the caliber of talent at Tootsie’s.”

Crest Audio proudly introduces the Nx CobraNet-8, a control module specifically designed to add networking and processing functionality to Crest’s Ci(TM) Series multi-channel power amplifiers.

The Nx CobraNet-8 module fits into the rear bay of Crest Audio Ci 20×4 and Ci 20×8 power amps and supports all NexSys(R) functions, DSP functions and CobraNet digital audio I/O on a single CAT 5 Ethernet cable. Software options for complete control and monitoring of these amplifiers include NexSys 4, Crest Audio’s premier control and monitoring software, and Peavey’s renowned MediaMatrix(R) NWare(TM) and MWare(TM) software.

An extensive suite of DSP options including loudspeaker management, delay, EQ, compression/limiting and crossover adds to the functionality of the Nx CobraNet-8 module. Amplifier monitoring includes ACL(TM) (Active Clip Limiting), IGM(TM) (Instantaneous Gain Modulation), input/output gain (VU), DC, thermal protect, fault, mute, Ethernet data and link statuses. A four-character LED allows easy setup, control and monitoring of up to eight CobraNet audio channels from the rear panel of Ci Series power amps, which ship network ready.

Please see your authorized Crest Audio representative for availability and pricing. Features and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Features

• Full amplifier monitoring and control with eight channels of CobraNet audio transport via a single CAT 5 cable
• Four-character LED display allows easy setup and monitoring local to the amplifier
• Complete support with NexSys 4 PC software and MediaMatrix systems
• Multiple points of control
• Extensive suite of DSP including channel routing, delay, EQ, compression/limiting and crossovers
• Monitor functions include ACL, IGM, input/output gain (VU), DC/Thermal protect, heat sink temp, input voltage and current and input/output amp modes
• Control functions include power, gain, mute, fault relays and CV inputs (amp dependant)
• Made in the U.S.A.

Crest Audio proudly introduces the Ci Series power amplifiers, which are geared to meet the demanding networking needs of modern systems integrators. Ci amps can operate independently or in tandem with Crest NexSys(R) 4 or Peavey MediaMatrix(R) software programs.

The four-channel Ci 20×4 and eight-channel Ci 20×8 power amps feature an advanced amplification architecture that allows 200 watts per channel at 8-ohm or 70-volt operation. Each amplifier in the chassis will operate to rated power, regardless of impedance connected, from 4 ohms to 70-volt line systems, switchable per channel (100-volt isolated outputs with optional CMX 100-volt isolation transformer unit).

With the addition of Crest Audio’s module bay accessories, such as the new Nx CobraNet-8(TM), users can monitor and control networks through Crest Audio NexSys 4 software or MediaMatrix MWare(TM) or NWare(TM) software. All inputs and outputs are on Phoenix(TM) connectors with level controls in the rear. In addition, a Control Voltage input is included on each channel to allow external gain control, while the Fault output on each channel allows the Ci Series power amps to be wired to other monitoring systems.

Crest Audio’s legendary Tour Class(R) protection suite includes exclusive ACL(TM) (Active Clip Limiting), which automatically reduces gain at the onset of clipping to prevent amplifier and load damage, and IGM(TM) (Instantaneous Gain Modulation), which monitors load current to protect against overloading. These amplifiers also feature Sequential Turn-On, one Form C latching relay per channel and one CV input per channel.

Please see your authorized Crest Audio representative for availability and pricing. Features and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Ci 20×8

• 150 watts per channel at 4 ohms x 8
• 220 watts per channel at 8 ohms x 8
• 200 watts per channel at 70-volt x 8
• 300 watts per channel at 8 ohms bridged x 4
• 400 watts per channel at 140-volt bridged x 4
• Five-year warranty
• Made in the U.S.A.

Ci 20×4

• 150 watts per channel at 4 ohms x 4
• 220 watts per channel at 8 ohms x 4
• 200 watts per channel at 70-volt x 4
• 300 watts per channel at 8 ohms bridged x 2
• 400 watts per channel at 140-volt bridged x 2
• Five-year warranty
• Made in the U.S.A.

Crest Audio proudly introduces the HP-W professional mixing console, a continuation of its celebrated, feature-packed HP-Eight™ Series consoles. The HP-W is available in 28-, 36- and 44-standard mono input frames—with four full stereo channels, eight mono Automix™ channels and two stereo line returns—making this console ideal for both mixed music and spoken word applications.

The HP-W mixing console combines Crest Audio’s legendary sound and build quality with sought-after features such as four-band, double-swept mid EQ; eight analog subgroups; 100 mm faders; two-channel matrix; full talkback and monitor systems; and eight-scene mute. This quality console also includes 10 aux sends on each input channel with fader flip functions for use as a monitor mixer, plus four stereo line input channels with EQ, assignment and aux sends capable of handling dual-mono or split-track signals.

Also standard on all HP-W consoles are eight mono channels of Automix for “hands-off” spoken word mixing. Automix is a gain-sharing protocol that allows increased gain before feedback. Engaging the Automix priority switch will greatly reduce comb filtering by turning down unused or low priority inputs. HP-W consoles also include four stereo channels, a stereo ambient mic input and two alternate outputs with processing.

The HP-W will be available in Q1 2006 from authorized Crest Audio dealers.

Features

• 44, 36 or 28 standard mono input channels
• Eight analog subgroups
• 10 auxes
• Eight mono gain-sharing Automix(TM) input channels
• 11 x 2 matrix
• Four fully stereo input channels with assignments that can also handle dual-mono or split- track applications
• Two stereo line returns on 60 mm faders with assignment and two aux sends
• One stereo ambient mic input with four aux sends
• XLR and ¼” connectors on all mono inputs
• Individual 48-volt phantom power, mic/line and polarity reverse switches on all mono input channels
• Fader Flip function on aux outputs places aux masters on 100 mm faders in place of groups & L/R
• 100 mm high-quality faders on mono inputs, auto mix inputs, stereo inputs, groups and separate left, right and mono outputs
• Four-band, double-swept mid EQ
• Eight microprocessor-controlled mute scenes
• Full talkback and monitor systems
• Two alternate outputs that can be sourced from L, R, M or matrix outputs (stereo compressor, expander and limiter on both)
• XLR connectors on aux outputs
• Full talkback and monitor systems
• Internal power supply with provision for external, redundant supply
• Modular input blocks of eights channels for ease of service
• Made in the U.S.A.
• U.S. MSRP $TBA

Peavey Electronics Corporation announces it has consolidated the Crest Audio manufacturing and business office in Fair Lawn, N.J., to its international headquarters in Meridian, Miss.

Hartley Peavey, founder and CEO of Peavey, cited market demand for products, especially in export markets, as the major reason for the move. The Crest Audio and Crest Performance product lines have experienced significant sales increases during 2004 and early 2005.

“In many cases, we had duplicate systems and overlapping operations in Mississippi and New Jersey that were unnecessary and costly to maintain,” commented Peavey. “We are now incorporating the best methods from both operations to give us faster time-to-market and reduced costs, which will benefit both the company as well as Peavey and Crest Audio consumers.”

With the recent addition of Meridian-based sales and marketing personnel for Crest Audio and the addition of more than 150 people to the Meridian manufacturing workforce, this move will enhance the Crest Audio operation significantly. Many of the subassemblies for Crest Audio’s world-class mixing consoles and power amps products are already in production at Peavey’s Decatur, Miss., facility.

Although Peavey and Crest Audio now share manufacturing and distribution resources, the companies will remain largely autonomous, with separate sales, design, engineering and management staffs. Crest Audio will continue to operate as a division of Peavey Electronics Corporation alongside the Architectural Acoustics(R), MediaMatrix(R) and PVDJ(TM) brands. Peavey acquired Crest Audio in 1998.

INDIANOLA, Miss. — The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center opened September 13 with a three-day celebration and an historic, Crest Audio-powered concert that paired the blues legend with several of the marquee artists he has inspired. 

Tracing King’s journey from the fields of the Mississippi Delta to Beale Street and beyond, the museum displays a trove of memorabilia to illustrate the artist’s life and inspiration. Even the $15 million facility itself is part of the collection, built onto the cotton gin where King worked as a young man.